Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Nasreddin · 06-16-2004, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javaman

Not only didn't I cry, I laughed at the silliness of it... at first. Then I got pissed. What a horrible story. Can you not see the awfulness of this story? Ugh. If this is what keeps you believing, I don't think you'll have much success "helping" us here.

Take another look at the ending, Javaman. Note that the quote that inlcudes the kid's letter is not closed after "God, Jesus & Me".

This, of course, means that the following was also a part of his letter to his mother.

Quote:

Let's see Satan stop this one.

Take 60-seconds and send this to five other people, within the hour, you will have caused a multitude of believers to pray to God for each other. Then sit back and sense the Holy Spirit work in your life for doing what you know God loves.

Warthur · 06-16-2004, 08:43 PM

Hey Troy,

I noticed this page: http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/lostbooks.htm on your website.

It says that there are only 46,000 New Agers, atheists, agnostics, Jews (Messianic and Old Skool), Mormons, members of the "Local Church" (whatever that is), Pentecostalists, Catholic charismatics, and Third Wave types in the world today.

Where'd you get this statistic?

Ebonmuse · 06-16-2004, 09:41 PM

What I'd like to know is why, exactly, he thinks the mysticism and "secret knowledge" themes of the Gospel of Thomas are in any way equivalent to agnosticism or atheism.

EverLastingGodStopper · 06-17-2004, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warthur

Hey Troy,

I noticed this page: http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/lostbooks.htm on your website.

It says that there are only 46,000 New Agers, atheists, agnostics, Jews (Messianic and Old Skool), Mormons, members of the "Local Church" (whatever that is), Pentecostalists, Catholic charismatics, and Third Wave types in the world today.

Where'd you get this statistic?

I usually go to www.adherents.com for statistics. Comparing the page quoted above with the facts on that site is nearly impossible.

For example, whereas Troy's link asserts that Ebionites are now Jews, one of the many references to that sect indicates this:

Quote:

"The name 'Ebionites' was first used in the 2nd century by the Christian writer Irenaeus to describe a Christian heretical sect. This strange name may go back to the very beginnings of Christianity. Many scholars cite, in this connection, the Apostle Paul's statement in his Epistle to the Romans (chapter 15) about a financial contribution that had been organized in Greece 'for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem'. The reference here is clerely to members of the original Christian community at Jerusalem who were in need. ..."
Source: http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_258.html#1390

Statistics on the numbers of adherents were unavailable.

I could not find "Thomasine" listed as a religion. I found "Thompsons" listed, defined as a small sect of Native American Indians. How Troy has determined that agnosticism (coined in the 19th century) and atheism (which predates Christianity) is somehow derived from this or, well, anything... is beyond me.

I would say that Troy's link is 100% false information, after reading and reviewing his statements and comparing them with facts about religion and history.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

06-16-2004, 08:43 PM	#92
Warthur Regular Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 241	Hey Troy, I noticed this page: http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/lostbooks.htm on your website. It says that there are only 46,000 New Agers, atheists, agnostics, Jews (Messianic and Old Skool), Mormons, members of the "Local Church" (whatever that is), Pentecostalists, Catholic charismatics, and Third Wave types in the world today. Where'd you get this statistic?

06-16-2004, 09:41 PM	#93
Ebonmuse Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: - Posts: 722	What I'd like to know is why, exactly, he thinks the mysticism and "secret knowledge" themes of the Gospel of Thomas are in any way equivalent to agnosticism or atheism.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.